1) You get the impression that Kris Commons is on a one man mission to win this league himself. His overall play in the last two Sunday games is off a man at his peak and willing to accept responsibility. This sometimes means that he overcooks things and seems to be trying too hard.
2) How unfit and unmobile does Gary Hooper look? His A-Game has deserted him at the wrong time.
3) Though Messi Murphy moves like he is transporting Romanians from Calais to Dover I cant question his commitment and workrate. The phrase ‘honest pro’ springs to mind.
4) The celebrations of the coaching staff didn’t seem one of joy more one of relief. Much like ship wreck disaster survivors hugging each other after getting to shore.
5) The game did have an end of season feel to it and for long spells our team seemed resigned that this is a lost cause. They have reason. Having seen the ugliness of Dundee United and The Marnocks close up in recent weeks it’s hard to see them muster a shot at goal nevermind produce a shock result against R*ngers.
Lennon seems to have caused a bit of a fuss with his: “somebody to compete and give R*ngers a game as there’s not been much evidence of that in their two previous games.” comment. Unsure why.
9 goals scored and none lost is conclusive evidence of simple games. I’m not saying that teams lay down (Lennon didn’t say they lay down either). Murderwell and Hearts both have excuses. Murderwell players are looking to the cup final and Hearts are always rubbish in Glasgow. Lennon understands this. Us failing to do our job means we are looking for unlikely favours from mobs who are not good enough overall.
I’m hoping both teams will compete like Inverness did against us. So is Lennon. If Ferguson, Jose or even The Myth had said what Lennon had said it would be getting painted as ‘mind games‘ not delusional ramblings.
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The perception of Lionel Murphy has changed from “aww hes p*sh” to “go on yerself big man” in recent weeks and his goal against Dundee United appeared to give him confidence (excuse the cliche)in stark contrast to Super Hooper who has lacked the threat that he once possessed but make no mistake about it hes had a marvellous first season in Paradise. If the summer time heralds the departure of Scott Brown then awarding the captains armband to Kris Commons seems like the most logical thing to do based on the impact that he has made since joining us in January, of course there will be Tims that may point to Kayal or Izzy as the “perfect candidates” for new skipper (if one is required) but KC has looked very much like the most suitable successor for El Capitano.
I would say Mark Wilson for captain but we have already signed his replacement.
is brown supposedly on his way out?
The reason I brought up the subject of a potential new skipper was because Broony is heading towards the final year of his contract and the rumours of his “imminent departure” (and probably most of the first team squad too) will start to fly around shortly in various down-market tabloids as they seem to thrive on attempting to destabilise, undermine and unsettle anything Celtic related so I thought I’d take the first guess in a game of Oh Captain My Captain.
The question is will Broonie except less than his current inflated package when he knows what Caldwell and Fletcher warn fighting relegation in the EPL?
The question is will Broonie except less than his current inflated package when he knows what Caldwell and Fletcher earn fighting relegation in the EPL?
if broony goes kayal has got to be given the captains arm band, he leads by example and it would be a great incentive to keep him at paradise.
The ICT game meant nothing to Inverness other than to say they beat the Famous Glasgow Celtic and I have no issue with their players working their arses off to attain this, however the reaction of their manager at the conclusion of the game was akin to a manager who has just won a trophy, or maybe someone who has just done a friend a huge favour so I’m wondering if one would go to such lengths to win for a friend would another go to the same length to lose for a friend?
I’m surprised it’s took so long to mention Butcher. I have no beef or no worries about his celebration. He had just seen his team get their DVD moment of the season. I’ve Seem similar reactions from other carrots like Greyfriars Joaby and Billy Reid after similar momentus reasults.
The way Jefferies celebrated Jose Quitongo’s 95th minute equaliser against us at Tynecastle in 1998 and his general demeanour after every game against Celtic is truly pathetic and subsequent media outbursts about us really does make me almost pity his bitter and unpleasant bawfaced-ness, Billy “Baron Greenback” Reid probably won’t have too many more opportunities to exhibit the unbridled joy he displayed after the poxy 1-1 game in January.
the hearts goalkeeper on sunday blatantly let the 1st goal in. you could even tell by the commentary after the game they were cringing at the replay.
commons has been yet another fantastic signing by lennon, and at 300 grand! what a shame we didn’t sign him until january, and we have kenny miller to thank for recommending he signs for us.
murphy has done okay, at least he constantly works and is strong and will drive right at defenders, rather him than lazy samaras frustrating the life out of me.
The Samaras / Murphy debate is a good one. Oh, it’s a toughie. Ability over honesty?
samaras might have more ability , but no point going with ability if there’s a 1 in 10 chance the person is going to be bothered to use it in my opinion. he’s not worth the risk.
I don’t think there’s ever been a goal scored before from such an angle. And it’s no even as if the guy hit it well. A disgusting bit of cheating. We all knew Hearts would lie down as they have nothing to play for. Well, only a Europa Cup place, but that’s mickey mouse and nobody wants it. Win bonuses? Please. Self-respect? They don’t have any. Same as every other team that’s lay down to THEM. Even Sellick done it, the cheatin’ bastards that we are.
Do you honestly believe everyone is stupid? There is no way you can tell me the hearts goalkeeper did not let that 1st goal in by Jelvic. Now you watch Rangers 1st goal today, Conway makes a simple pass to Watson on Rangers right hand side, Watson literally as plain as day just allows the ball to go out for a Rangers throw from which they go on to score. There is no debate on it, its there on any replay you want. The commentators go silent for about 20 seconds, clearly they must be looking at each other in amazement, that’s how ridiculous it was. Dundee are mostly giving their all, much more so than the limp performances by Hearts and Motherwell. Rangers are actually playing really well. But all it takes it 2-3 players cheating and it’s difficult for the team to play well, not impossible but difficult. You want me to believe that the level of venomous hatred felt by many in Scotland towards Celtic, and particularly this season Neil Lennon has not found its way into male dominated, tribal, football.!!?
I’m not having that the teams lay down or deliberately set out to get beat. Lennon rightly has defended his comments basically quoting what I said in the blog. The two results at a casual glance show that they weren’t hard games.
At this time of the season when most have got nothing to play for the first goal is important. We lost the first goal last week this gave the ict player the feeling that they fancied it busted a gut. If you lose the first goal and your league place and end of season bonus is confirmed then they will go through the motions.
How many times do you see champions lose games after they win the league? Professional footballers are spoiled carrots who take us for mugs. R*ngers have something to play for. The rest didnt. It’s life.
A missed pen and a terrible performance have cost us similiar cake walks.
Aye, LOTW, can’t argue with a word of that. Every SPL team (apart from the Huns of course) has a few Irish or Scottish Catholics in their squad. Given the parochial nature of our game, any order to “lie down” would be common knowledge by now via family or friends.
However, the SFA’s “Operation Save Rangers” for the last two years has been a genuine scandal.
True, the big thing this season is that has been exposed.
lotw….. i dont for 1 minute believe that even a bitter man like jeffries would tell his team to lie down, but theres no way on earth the other teams do not have many ger supporting players who are going to give ragers an easy ride, the bitterness and vindictive spite of some gers playing in the spl does not mean teams sit around conspiring against celtic, individuals buy into the ragers WATP/us and them sh!t, that’s all it takes, just as many individual refs for years cant be professional against celtic. the sfa is a different beast altogether, they quite possibly have sat round conspiring, years ago God knows how bad it was. the compliant media in this country are just as bad as the sfa, their influence cannot be stressed, their pandering to ragers is sickening, how can they peddle the “as bad as each other” myth? how can they refuse to condemn the racist bigoted hate campaign against lennon since he joined celtic as a player, and attempted murder of people connected to celtic until the story went global?
I really do think you give the majority of fitbawers a sembalance of intelligence with your view. Most professional players probably haven’t watch teams of their alligence since primary school. They have been in a bubble for years.
The Ones who will try a leg no matter what will the others whose heads go down or will hide will. It’s in their genetic make up one cultured by a lavish pampered lifestyle.
Remember it’s a job to them.
I’ll give you the SFA and refs though.
this season hasn’t been as bad, of course celtic have to look to themselves, all im saying is look at how fine a margin it is, for instance weir and bougherra are persistently committing fouls other players are booked for, its always been the case, if they were booked when they should be they would miss games for the numbers of yellow cards, nobody can tell me if they were suspended from the odd game it would be more difficult for ragers. bougherra grabs up a referee and isnt suspended for a single game?
the last 2 seasons were sickening, the open “ragers must win the league’s at all costs” policy was not even hidden, it was pathetically blatant, this year hasn’t been anywhere near as bad, but until we at least get a level playing field from referees and the sfa we will be struggling.
The boogie non suspension and paw Broon non suspensions proves the SFA is not fit for purpose.
not a celtic fan myself but would watch them ahead of others north of the border. just interested in ppl’s opinions on commons’ yellow card vs hearts (for celebrating deliberately with fans). on sky tv coverage you can clearly see as he walks off he passes a hearts defender and mouths “i was trying to get that” while smiling like the cat that got the cream. is he donating his wages for the coming week to the rest of the squad, or better, to charity? respect for what he’s done this season, tarnished by this tho
I have watched it again and I do think he is just having a laugh at the daftness of it all. He’s been great for us this season.